Ohio State baseball is riding a wave of momentum as they prepare to host Michigan State in their final home series of the regular season. The Buckeyes are coming off an electrifying sweep of No. 16 Nebraska last weekend—their first series win over the Cornhuskers since 2018. That dominant performance marked Ohio State's fifth sweep of the season and their third against a Big Ten opponent, pushing their overall record to 24-21.
The series opener on Friday night set the tone with a gritty 2-1 victory. Grant Mangrum got the Buckeyes on the board in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly that scored Dane Harvey. Lee Ellis added an insurance run in the sixth with another sacrifice fly, plating Maddix Simpson. Nebraska managed just one run in the ninth on an RBI groundout, but it wasn't enough to derail Ohio State. Gavin Kuzniewski delivered a career-high eight innings on the mound, and Ryan Zamora closed the door in the ninth for his third save of the season.
Saturday's game saw the Buckeyes explode early. Mason Eckelman launched a three-run triple in the bottom of the first inning to seize control. After Nebraska answered with a run in the third, Ohio State responded immediately when Dane Harvey crushed a solo home run, making it 4-1. Eckelman wasn't done—he added a two-run homer in the eighth, finishing with five RBIs and falling just a single short of hitting for the cycle. Starting pitcher Chris Domke was equally impressive, allowing only four hits over seven innings to earn his fifth win of the season.
Sunday's series finale turned into a home run derby. Noah Furcht kicked things off with a solo blast in the first inning, setting the stage for a long-ball showcase. Maddix Simpson followed with a three-run homer in the fourth, and Mason Eckelman added a solo shot later in the same frame. Furcht went deep again in the fifth, and Eckelman cleared the fences for the second time in the sixth. Nebraska's only run came in the seventh, but by then, the Buckeyes had already put the game out of reach.
With this hot streak behind them, Ohio State now turns their attention to Michigan State. It's the last chance for Buckeyes fans to catch their team at home this regular season—and if the Nebraska series is any indication, they're in for a treat. Whether you're cheering from the stands or repping the Scarlet and Gray from home, this is a series you won't want to miss.